Johnny on the Spot

How do you like the addition to my landscaping? Let me introduce you to Johnny. Johnny has been a fixture in my yard now for the last week. He sits under the shade of the oak tree. He's here all the time ready to do his job. Unlike others, I won't mention names. He's a lovely shade of blue-green. He's conveniently located next to the hammock in case you are exhausted and need a siesta.

Starting this little bathroom project, what we thought would be little, was a major milestone for me. I have issues with commitment. I'll admit it. I have a hard time with decision. I've gotten better. Really. But when it goes to big ticket items like hiring someone to rip up your house, I'm back to having issues. So, this may or may not fit in with Funky Junk's idea of Gitter Done. Even though it's not officially done, it is started and for me that was a major Gitter Done moment. We needed the half bath and I was just going to have to suck it up and go for it. Isn't that your motto Donna? No? I think it should be.

This is what the back yard is like. A long and winding ditch. It starts at the back wall by the pool. The other side of that will be the bath. Dirt and white dog don't go well together.

It runs past all the camellias and towards Johnny. Then rounds the corner of the garage. I'm making the pictures extra large so you can experience the enormity of the mess along with me. What's that mess behind Johnny you say? Well, that will be an extension of the driveway. New home for my husband's second wife, the boat.

They had to jack hammer a strip of the driveway out and then continue the trench through the flower bed, or what used to be the flower bed, all the way to the street. I'll spare you with more pictures of trenches and pipes but trust me when I say it goes on and on. The driveway is not short.

Where there once was a closet filled with .....stuff.....

There is now this..... While you're looking at my lovely laundry room. Look down at the floor. I'm trying to find more of that tile. I haven't yet. But I'd like some ideas and opinions on either using the same tiles, which are large almost 18x18 or going with something else. I think they are called Azteca Vecchio Tesoro. I got that off the box but there were only a couple in there. It's also in my kitchen which the laundry is connected to. I'm not sure how I feel about switching to something different or how it would look. How to transition it?

There will be a pocket door there, not a swing door. Which I need to pick out. I'm thinking a two panel. I'd like to switch out other door eventually and they will be easier to paint. Thanks for coming by and looking at my mess. Let me know your thoughts, I'd love to hear them.

Linking up with:

Funky Junks Gitter Done #3

Oh Happy Day!

Hi everyone! Sorry I have been a little absent. It was a busy week here. Son #3 started back to school. The bathroom project has begun. It is quite the mess outside. More on that later. And we had company for the weekend. Good friends from GA so they didn't mind the mess. 


I want to welcome all of my new followers and thank all of you for hanging around here. I love getting comments from each and every one of you. Your comments are always welcome around here. It's so great to share ideas and knowledge. You guys are the best!

I got a little surprise in the mail. Well, I did know it was coming.  But something other than bills is always a nice surprise. Did you hear? I won the giveaway from Decorchick! I was so excited. I've been a long time follower of Emily's. She hasn't been blogging for very long but boy, she just took off running full speed!  I love her ideas and her blog. If you haven't been over there you must go and see what she is up to.

Here are some of my favorites. You can click on the photos and it will take you right to her post. I loved her wonderful hutch redo. It is so light and bright now.

Her beautiful master bedroom redo. You have to go see how she dressed up those cute lamp shades.

Here is a media unit that she turned into a display cabinet. She will tell you just how she did it too.

I hope you will drop by and see her. Let her know I sent you over. She is just the sweetest! Thank you so much Emily for such a great giveaway.

I need to get caught up on everyone's blogs and then do a little shopping. Decisions, decisions, what shall I get? Perhaps a Pottery Barn lamp shade. Hope everyone is having a good weekend :)

Lamp Loveliness

This is another one of my finds from the fabulous estate sale. The one where I regret not buying more. I got this on day 2 and so my $5 lamp cost me a whopping $4. It's hard to tell from this shot but it's pretty darn tall. How could I pass that up for $4? I could not.

The wiring was pretty old and looked like it was covered in fabric. It originally had two bulbs with a brass fitting. I'm not sure what the shade would have looked like but it's getting a new and bit more modern one put on.

The base is 14" in diameter and pretty scuffed up. But I loved the shape of it. So, I thought I could try to make it beautiful again.

The socket just unscrewed. No, my knuckles are not hairy. My husband did the wiring.That whole socket is going to be replaced with a 3 way socket. I guess I could have reused that one but I really like 3 ways. Lamps that is.

Here it is with the new wiring threaded through. He attached the end of the wiring with blue tape to some stiffer wire to help it thread easier through the base and out the top. Now, if it was me I would have just taped it to the old wiring before pulling it out. But whatever. I let him do it his way.

Then I had to use a little wood glue and some clamps. The pole was split, which I split even more while getting it into the car. But having it it two pieces did making threading the wire easier. I let it dry overnight.

I gave it some sanding. I was trying to smooth out some rough spots and then I filled a couple of gouges that were bugging me. Always sand last with something fine so that you have a smooth finish to work with. I put on about 3 coats of creamy white paint. This was a Lowe's color that I was wanting to use up because this little sample can was getting cruddy. The name has the word tequila in it, funny how I remember that.

After all that painting what did I do? I sanded it yet again. Here and there. Sometime too much here so then I would go back over it with the tequila and lightly dry brush it so it was more subtle. Because there was still some dents and rough spots I figured I should just go with it. I then mixed some of light tan color that looks like melted chocolate ice cream with some glaze. This is the best way to get a sheer color. It gives you time to work with it and if you don't like it, wipe it off.  I then added some burnt umber at the end and dabbed it in the little crevices. I wasn't crazy about how the base looked in the picture below. So, once again I went over it lightly with more tequila. There is no science to it. It's all matter of what you like and that is why this is forgiving. Just keep your colors handy and go back and forth. I like to let each layer dry so that it doesn't get muddy but I wasn't working with dark colors so it wasn't bad if I rushed it a bit.

This is what I wanted. Sheer color and some sheen.

I'm leaving the plastic on the shade until I decide if I like it. I love the shade. It has a nice nubby texture. I feel like it's still too small and I was hoping for some opinions. The lamp is just so tall. Ignore the dead leaf in the corner. I'm not having a green thumb lately on my indoor plants.

So, what do you think? Bigger shade?

Update: I just wanted to add that I have been looking all day online for a extra large shade that doesn't cost a gazillion dollars. I found this one from Pottery Barn. Bottom 17", top: 14", height: 10.5. Opinions?? Not big enough? Too white? If anyone has an idea on where to look please let me know. Thanks so much!

I am linking up with:
Meridian Road Re-do Private Party

Domestically Speaking Power of Paint Party

Sunflowers, How Can You Not Smile?

This is my thrifty find of the week. Fresh Market has their bundles of sunflowers for 3/$10. Each bundle has 5 stems. So, for 3.33 you get 5 big beautiful sunflowers to brighten your day. Quite the deal in my book.

Linking up with:

Coastal Charm Nifty Thrifty Tuesdays